Teaching children to socialize.
Texas Ed has an interesting post about Schools and socialization yesterday. An article from the UK news source the Telegraph shared that teachers may be required to complete a detailed analysis of how their students get along with each other. This analysis is supposed to help the teachers be able to help their students with their social and emotional well-being.
But, as Texas Ed asks: If we are supposed to send our children to school for the socialization, then why do teachers need to teach their students how to socialize?
Never before have we needed teachers to teach children how to socialize. Being a part of the real world on a daily basis was enough to help children gain the social skills that they needed. Before public schools became commonplace children were often found along side their parents. And, one could also add that before video games children spent their time playing freely and being a part of their community.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel that teachers need to help children who are less social be able to interact with others better?
July 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I think kids learn to socialize best by socializing with all ages, not being segregated into groups the same age as themselves.
My kids are able to socialize with younger people and older people because of homeschooling. They are exposed to many situations which teach them to be polite and talk to people. They also have manners, and that is a big thing today. A lot of kids don’t respect others with their speech and actions because they are not taught how to. Homeschooling has been an advantage for our family, in many ways. Socialization is a big one.
July 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Hello there,
I’m a certified Montessori Pre-K teacher, and the socializing aspect of developing children, it is my belief, and the Montessori philosophy, that children learn by watching and by doing. If their environment is set up so they have opportunities to observe socialization, as well as the opportunities to practice it themselves, then it will be learned. I don’t see how that is acheived in a traditional school setting. Their role model is either behind a desk or in front of the blackboard, the children are taught to listen and follow directions. Both of which are important developmental skills, but as Jean pointed out, if they are homeschooled, they may have a much wider variety of situations to practice good manners, communication, etc.
In a Montessori classroom, those opportunities are available for the children as well, both in a one-on-one or group situation with children that are varying across a 3-year age range, as well as the teacher and assistants.
As a side note, I still believe that the traditional school system is outdated, to say the least. It was established as an extension of the family, wherein if a child was out of line, the teacher had permission to discipline the child as if he or she were at home. This is not the case anymore, and if education is to grow and change with the definitions of society, a lot has to change in the system.
July 8th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Interesting post. Just to weigh in. I’m a parent and a public school teacher. My wife and I are strongly considering home schooling our kids when they reach middle school.
Should teachers teach socialization to students? Absolutely not! To do so would be to infringe on the parents’ rights and responsibilities.
What does socialization mean anyway? Whose definition are you going to use?
I wonder if Bill Gates was sufficiently socialized when he was in school? I wonder if he is now? How about Albert Einstein?
Great post! Thanks!